4 Pieces of Equipment to Start A Youtube Gaming Channel

Starting a YouTube gaming channel has evolved into more than just a hobby. Thousands of people nowadays make their money by running YouTube channels. In 2017, the top ten YouTubers in the world made about 127 million dollars combined. Close to half this number was made up of gaming YouTubers. The highest earning was Daniel Middleton who specializes in Minecraft games YouTube videos. He made an astounding 16.5 million dollars in 2017 putting him in celebrity status.

From the facts above it is quite clear that a YouTube gaming channel could be a great venture especially if you are a gamer yourself. There are thousands of games across different platforms and millions of gamers looking for tutorials on YouTube every day. In other words, there is a lot of potential the YouTube gaming.

However, starting out a successful channel is the most challenging part of it all. Aside from the strategy, the most important factor towards your success is having the right equipment. If you lack the necessary equipment then it becomes even more difficult to gain success from your channel. While most of the equipment is normally a bit expensive, it is possible to get cheaper options that can work in the same way the pricier alternatives would.

If you are looking to start a YouTube gaming channel, the most important pieces of equipment that you will need are a capture card, a microphone, editing software and a good computer. Below you can find a cheap options for each of these key pieces of equipment.

1. Capture card

The capture card is one of the most important pieces of equipment when it comes to YouTube gaming. It records the game as it is being played so that it can later be edited and posted. You can think of it as a screenshot of the video but unlike a screenshot, it is in video form.

When looking for a capture card, ensure it is one with High Definition (HD) capabilities. Other necessary features include a minimum of 720p and the ability to record at least 60 frames per second (FPS).

Elgato is a well-known brand which gives you the assurance of quality. This particular capture card is one of the few that combine high-end features with a low price tag. At about 150 dollars, the Elgato Game Capture HD has features almost equivalent to other capture cards that cost in excess of 300 dollars. Its main features include:

The capture card allows you to not only record but also stream your videos live as you play the game. You can connect it to your PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Wii U giving you service across different gaming platforms.

The card supports resolutions from 240p to 1080p giving you options on the desired video quality. It also features an advanced H.264 encoding which keeps the resolution high while keeping the file sizes low.

The capture card itself is light and the size of an average smartphone. It also needs just one cable to record the video and for power supply.

With flashback recording, you can time-shift your gameplay and simply slide back on your PC or Mac and record parts that you might have skipped.

This capture card will surely serve you well and last for many years. While there are some cheaper options, none other offers the same level and quality of features.

2. Microphone

Sound quality is one of the main factors that separates a regular YouTuber from the elite ranks of gaming superstars. The sound quality of your video determines whether people will actually get to watch the entire video. Gone are the days where a simple headphone microphone would suffice.

To produce outstanding videos with great sound quality, you need a great microphone. One such example would be the Blue Snowball Ice Condenser microphone which sells at around 50 dollars.
The microphone is easy and convenient to use. You simply connect it to your PC or Mac and start recording. It also offers clear and crisp sound quality to your videos. As with the Elgato capture card, there are some cheaper options. However, some of the successful YouTube gaming channel owners recommend using this particular model due to the sound quality.

You can also use software such as Audacity which allows you to remove background noise from your recording.

3. Editing Software

YouTubers generally use two main pieces of software for editing their videos; Adobe Premier and Sony Vegas. Adobe Premier is the best editing software but has a rather steep learning curve and could take time to master. It costs about 20 dollars a month.

Sony Vegas Pro is much easier to learn and costs about 600 dollars to buy. Many YouTubers are known to use this particular editing software.

Backup Option – Free if you have a PC

In either scenario, the editing software is not cheap but that is not a problem since you can use Windows Movie Maker on your PC to do the editing. It may not have all the features you can get on either Adobe Premier or Sony Vegas but it will still serve you well especially as a beginner. What is more, some PCs come pre-installed with this editing software so you basically have to pay nothing for it.

4. A good computer

Your computer does most of the work when running a YouTube channel. It records, edits, renders and uploads your video. As such, you will need a powerful computer to do all this work.

When it comes time to choose your computer, it really comes down to preference. There are high end models that will blaze through video editing in a breeze. There are mid tier models which may take a bit longer but cost significantly less. There are lower tier models that may take a day or so to render your full video but are still up to the task of cutting up your video. Here we provide you with 3 models but do your research and find something that fits your budget and usage amount.

If you want to reach those staggering view counts and become the next YouTube millionaire, the tips laid out here plus the equipment mentioned above will surely put you on the right path towards achieving your dream.